Strike to hit 30000 schools

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Ranchi, Dec. 17: Thirty thousand state-run primary schools will remain closed for two days from tomorrow with 41,000 teachers, under the aegis of Jharkhand Rajya Prathmik Sikshak Sangh, deciding to proceed on mass leave. The agitating teachers want to be exempted from non-academic work like overseeing construction of school buildings and preparation of midday meals.

The mass leave call comes on the heels of the abduction and murders of two primary school teachers in Gumla. The two were allegedly killed by extortionists demanding their share of funds allotted for construction of a school building.

General secretary of the Sangh B.B. Pandey said the decision was taken after a meeting attended by representatives of primary teachers from different districts.

ďBesides freeing teachers from non-academic work, proper compensation to the families of the dead teachers has also been demanded. We have also asked government to suspend the officer-in-charge of Bharno police station who failed to save the two,Ē he said.

Pandey condemned the government apathy towards problems faced by teachers. ďThe teaching fraternity expects some consolation from ministers and bureaucrats over the murders, but no one has made any statement,Ē he said.

General secretary of the Sangh Mangleshwar Oroan said their agitation will continue tomorrow and a demonstration will be held at district headquarters to protest against the murders of headmaster Jaglal Sahu and para-teacher Satendranath Tiwari of Government Upgraded Middle School at Raikera.